NBA: LeBron James to Join Los Angeles Lakers in $ 154 Million Contract Over Four Years | NBA News

LOS ANGELES: LeBron James will join the Los Angeles Lakers on a $ 154 million, four-year deal, his agents said on Sunday, ending months of frenzied speculation about the upcoming superstar movement's move. NBA.

The successful contract places the four-year-old NBA Most Valuable Player in one of the league's most iconic clubs, adding to the legacy of legends such as Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson.

"LeBron James, four-time MVP of the NBA, three-time NBA finalist, 14-time NBA All-Star, and two-time Olympic gold medalist, signed a $ 154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, "The management company of James Klutch Sports Group said in a statement.

James is considered a rival of the retired Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan for the title of best player in the history of the NBA.

However, he had endured the frustration with the Cleveland Cavaliers, culminating in last month's clean sweep defeat at the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.

James and the Cavaliers have been beaten in three of the four NBA Finals against the Warriors since 2015.

James had been linked to several franchises, with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Houston Rockets being in the running.

US media reports indicate that the Lakers movement was sealed as a result of a meeting last Saturday between James and the president of the basketball operations team, Magic Johnson.

James, who has a home and a production company in Los Angeles, is now joining a club with money to spend and a desire to rebuild in a championship team.

The Lakers have failed to reach the playoffs for the past five seasons.

News of James' arrival at the Lakers sparked a delightful response Sunday, with basketball legends and Hollywood celebrities lining up to accommodate the move.

"Welcome to the @KingJames family # lakers4life #striveforgreatness," Lakers legend Kobe Bryant wrote on Twitter.

"I'm sure the Lakernation is looking forward to it. The acquisition of LeBron James means that the Lakers are just a smidgen away from it." to be true contenders, "Lakers icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar added.

The former Hollywood hero and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger also weighed.

"It's so exciting that you arrive in the city of stars," Schwarzenegger said.

"And you will not be the biggest star of all, on the court and on the court, I love it."

James, two-time Olympic champion, left Cleveland in 2010 for the Miami Heat, where he reached the finals of the NBA four times, 2-2, before leaving for the Cavaliers, promising to bring a title to Cleveland, his native region having grown up nearby Akron.

This mission was accomplished when the Cavaliers won the 2016 crown with James in the lead while Cleveland celebrated a sports champion for the first time in 52 years.

"Thanks to Northeast Ohio for the incredible 4 seasons that will always be home," posted James on Instagram with a photo of the Cavaliers championship parade.

But the Warriors got Kevin Durant after that loss and Golden State went 8-1 against the Cavs in both NBA finals ever since.

"Being able to be part of a championship team two years ago with the team we had and the way we did it is something I will always remember "said James after the last defeat of the Cavals. .

James informed the Cavaliers on Friday that he would not exercise his $ 35.6 million contract option.

And he also snubbed what could have been the most money and the longest deal available, the Cavaliers being able to extend to James a five-year contract of worth $ 209 million.

But money and years of security were less of a concern than being able to play for a title contender.

The Lakers can offer money and draft picks to surround James with fairly competitive players to challenge the Warriors, who must suddenly compete with James as a rival of the Pacific Division rather than as an opponent twice a season. and for the NBA title.

The Lakers would have talked with San Antonio for the unfortunate star Kawhi Leonard.

And if big names such as Chris Paul of Houston and Paul George of Oklahoma City have agreed to stay with their teams, nothing can be signed until Friday – leaving players plenty of time to think to this kind of situation. Lakers with James could offer.